SF Bay Area - South Bay

I'm starting a thread for those of us in the South Bay.

Here are a couple of interesting places:

San Jose: Nordstrom Valley Fair -- they have an extensive perfume area on the ground floor: a dozen Annick Goutal, Jo Malone, Armani Prive (at the Armani counter) + the usual designer suspects. Their perfume counter is the largest of all the other Nordstrom stores in South/East Bay.

Re: SF Bay Area - South Bay

Thanks, I didn't know about Black Swan. A much larger version of this (with better local parking) is Mahin & Co. in Palo Alto, on California Ave. It has a fairly complete collection of L'Aritisan Parfumeur as well as some Bond #9, Different Company, and quite a few of Caron perfumes, and others. It's a family store, with the mother running the salon in the back, and the daughter, Namnam running the perfume/cosmetic section in the front. Namnam is quite knowledgeable about perfumes and is very helpful.

Re: SF Bay Area - South Bay

Thanks, ROtto! I keep forgetting about that place, and I've have never stopped in. I had been going to Bliss Beauty in Los Altos to sniff their limited line of L'As and AdPs, but I really need to remember Mahin.

Re: SF Bay Area - South Bay

ROtto, Thanks for the great tip on Mahin! I went there today, and yes, they have an extensive range of the abovementioned niches, Caron, and a few other unusual bits. Namnam was very helpful--we had a really nice conversation, and she was generous with samples, which I will share.

Re: SF Bay Area - South Bay

Thank you Kess and all for the tip re. The Black Swan Boutique- I went in search of it this weekend and tried many wonderful scents. A lovely boutique and nice people too.
PS. I love Los Gatos - I would move there in an instant !

Re: SF Bay Area - South Bay

Well, I have to mention that I was stunned last weekend when I stopped into Perfume Gallery on the second floor of Valley Fair Mall. I'd dismissed them since the original owners sold to a family that does not know much about perfume, a few years ago.

The man who was working that night still did not know much, and didn't seem very interested (and he was one of the family members). BUT they had a large, unexpected array of classics!!! Balmain, Guerlain, Caron, etc. I found testers (and merchandise) of Jicky, Mitsouko, Chant dAromes, Ivoire, Jolie Madame, Diorella, Diorissimo, Miss Dior (NOT the Cherie), and many others that haven't been at any department store I've visited in years.

The prices certainly aren't internet or Marshall's. On the other hand, as much as possible, I'd pay some more to support the existence of a local store where I can "meet" these classic fragrances without having to buy a de**nt. So I'll try to do some of my purchasing there.

Anyway, let's hear it for 'there's more to the south bay than they (or I) might have guessed!"

Re: SF Bay Area - South Bay

Originally Posted by ROtto

Thanks, I didn't know about Black Swan. A much larger version of this (with better local parking) is Mahin & Co. in Palo Alto, on California Ave. It has a fairly complete collection of L'Aritisan Parfumeur as well as some Bond #9, Different Company, and quite a few of Caron perfumes, and others. It's a family store, with the mother running the salon in the back, and the daughter, Namnam running the perfume/cosmetic section in the front. Namnam is quite knowledgeable about perfumes and is very helpful.

Re: SF Bay Area - South Bay

Ok... so this was all about the South Bay let's hear it for San Francisco proper? After Barney's and Saks what else is there, don't get me wrong both Barney's and Saks have been amazingly generous to me every time I've gone in but they don't/can't carry everything. Does anyone know about Perfumes Jacqueline - which is downtown. I stumbled up on it recently and saw some really amazing display sized bottles of all kinds of classics in the window but it was after hours and I haven't made it back down yet.

Re: SF Bay Area - South Bay

I know they don't carry *quite* as much as SF, but do they carry Tom Ford? (Close enough that I can go visit.

Originally Posted by EllenWF

Well, I have to mention that I was stunned last weekend when I stopped into Perfume Gallery on the second floor of Valley Fair Mall. I'd dismissed them since the original owners sold to a family that does not know much about perfume, a few years ago.